Apparatus for pressurizing containers for fire-extinguishing dry chemicals



5 7 8 2w ME 1.. 0 5 5 T U m 6 mGL 2 H. wBA WN H ss TM ML RL A 2 IC AI ME H LC l Y A Y5 4 B G 9 I. am Y mml BRH APPARATUS FOR FIRE Sept. 8, 1953ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1953 l PATENT @APPARATUS 'FORPRESSURIZINGiCON- I v TAINERS FOR FIRE-EXTINGUISHING DRY CHEMICALS f"Arthur B. GuisegMai'inette, Wis.;'and AldenAllen; Menominee,-Micli.,-assignors to Ansul Chemical Company, Marinettey wis acorporation "of Wisconsin .7

Application January 31, 19'51,ser'iai Nofzoasza 2 Claims. (01. 169-11')'This invention 'relates' td an apparatus for under a pressure ofabput2000flbs.fp"e obtaining rapid pressurization of large tanks inch. "Thecylinders l are'connec'ted 'by sult used in dry chemicalfire-extinguishing systems. conduits l2 toa high 'gas pressuremlahifoldffll, 'Dry chemical fire-extinguishing systems'em- Valves'8'control theflow offgasundeif pressure ploy powdered dry chemicalcompositions which 5 from either or both'of the cylinders" I0 as maygenerally contain sodium bicarbonate as the esbe desired: The manifold'l lis'i'n turn connected sential ingredient. Such a composition, forexto a low gas pressure manifold I5 by a plurality ample, is disclosedin Patent 1,793,420 February of spaced conduits [1 connected inparallel. One 17, 1931. In using such compositions it is necesof theconduits is provided with a high pressure sary to convey same to thesite of the fire to be gauge 5 anda low pressure gauge 6 to indicateextinguished by suitable pipe lines or hose in the respectively theprevailing pressure in the supply form of a stream of the dry chemicalfluidized cylinders l0 and the pressure in tank 20. Each by gas underpressure. The fluidization is acconnecting conduit I1 is provided with arelacomplished by storing the dry chemical in a tively low gas capacitypressure reducing valve closed chamber or tank and feeding therein an 10I6, for example, 100 cubic feet per minute, each inert gas such asnitrogen which is stored in of which functions to reduce the highpressure metal cylinders at about 2000 lbs. per square inch of the gasflowing through conduits I 1 to a relapressure. When the gas is releasedfrom the tively lower predetermined pressure. The manstorage cylindersit is necessary toreduce its ifold I5 is suitably connected by a conduitI 8 to pressure to about 200 to 250 lbs. per square inch 29 the drychemical chamber or tank in which prior to feeding same to the drychemical chamdry chemical is stored. The tank 20 is provided her. Thisis accomplished by means of a preswith a removable closure H forsupplying fresh sure regulator or reducing valve connected to drychemical to the tank.

the gas feed line. In operating the system, all the pressure regu- Whenusing large dry chemical storage chamlators l6 are adjusted to reducethe gas pressure bers, it is desirable to fiuidize and pressurize thesupplied from manifold 14 to substantially the chambers as rapidly aspossible in order to quicksame value. The number of pressure reducing lysupply a stream of the dry chemical when valves used depends on the sizeand individual needed for fire-e t u g p rposes. It has capacity of thevalves used and the desired rate of been found impractical to use asingle large 30 flow of the gas. The pressure reducing valves maycapacity pressure regulator such as 400 cubic feet be of any suitableconstruction such as a con- Der minute for this p rp use they areventional spring operated pressure reducing s ly not efiicient- Large ps e regulators valve described in Perry Chemical Engineers tend to leakand are difficult to maintain in work- Handbook, p. 1660, 1st ed., 1934.The pressure ns condition F r h m large pr r r as regulator valves areadjustable and can be set ulators are expensive and at best not too retred ce the high pressure gas passing thereliable in controlling andmaintaining desired prethrough to a predetermined pressure, When itdetermined pressures. is desired to supply a stream of fluidized dry Theaforementioned difficulties are overcome chemical using the systemherein described, one

y h pr n nve tio in accordance wit or more cylinders I0 containing highpressure which a source of h pressure y Chemical gas, for examplenitrogen at 2000 lbs. per square flui and pressurizing g f om o moreinch, are connected to manifold l4 and the gas containers is reduced toa desired lower pressure under pressure is permitted t flow th i h ypassing the high pressure gas through D high pressure gas will then flowthrough the rality of r lativ y a l z a pressure upressure reducingvalves [6 in conduits n which lating valves connected in parallel to asingle low are connected in parallel t th 1 pressure p u Conduit Whichin tum is connected to manifold I5 which will reduce the gas pressure tothe y Chemical chamber whereby the desired a predetermined value, forexample 200 to 250 pressurization in the chamber is accomplished lbs.per square inch. Thegas at reduced presrapidly. to sure will then be fedfrom manifold I 5 through Further advantages and details of the invena,c nduit 18 to the dry chemical tank 20' for tion will be apparent fromthe following specifluidizing the dry chemical therein and presficationand accompanying diagrammatic drawsurizing the tank whereby a fluidizedstream of ing wherein numeral l0 indicates one or more dry chemical willbe supplied from the tank It] cylinders of gas under pressure, such asnitrogen through conduit 2 I.

short period of time which hitherto could be accomplished only by use ofvery expensive and large capacity pressure regulators.

Changes and modifications may be made of the specific details of theinvention herein described which are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A dry chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus for supplying a stream offluidized dry chemical which comprises a container for storing powdereddry chemical therein, a manifold connected to aid container forsupplying gas under a predetermined pr ssure to said container, at leastthree spaced conduits c nnect d t said manif l i parallel, each of saidconduits being connected to a second manifold, a in each of said spacedconduit positioned inter.-

pressure reducing Valve 25 mediate said manifolds and a source of highpressure gas connected to said second manifold intermediate each pair ofsaid spaced conduits.

2. A dry chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus .for supp i a stream .offluidized dry ch which comprise a container for storing powdered drychemical therein, a manifold connected to said container for supplyinggas under a, predetermined pressure to said container, at least threespaced conduits connected to said manifold in parallel, each of saidconduits being connected to a second manifold, a pressure reducing valvein each of said spaced conduits positioned intermediate said manifoldsand multiple sources of high pressure gas separately connected to saidsecond manifold.

ARTHUR B. GUISE.

ALDEN ALLEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED ST TE-i5 P ENTSSnowden June '14, 1949

